Electrically-operated switch



' Nov. 22, 1927.

c. D. AINSWORTH ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH Filed June 28, 1921 Nov. 22, 1927.

- 7 1,650,172 C. D. AINSWORTH BLECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH Filed June 28, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22, 1927.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ji'zven?02*.

Mom "I Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER D. AINSWORTI BI, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, IB Y MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, 01 BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTBIOALLY-OPERATED swrron.

Application filed June 28, 1921. Serial No.481,125.

This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to remotely-controlled switches especially adapted to control the starting and running of electric motors; and

6 has for its object to improve the construction and operation of electric switches of the type above set forth.

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side view respectively oi a switch embodying the invention. v i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch with the cover removed and illustrating more particnlarly the arrangements for the circuit leads and fuses.

Fig. 4 is a view along line 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation along line .')-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line (3-6 of Fig. 5. V

Fig. 7 is a front view of the switch with the casing partially broken away to expose the movable switch member in switch-open position. A

Figs. 8 and '9 are-end and side views respectively of the closing and holding magnet core, with the coil removed.

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating the connections between the circuit. leads, the holding coil and a remote control switch.

As here shown the switch embodying the invention includes the enclosing receptaclecomprising the upper rectangular open top and bottom casing 10 closed at the top by the cover 11 removably secured in 35 place by the screws 12, and closed at the bottom by the oil receptacle 13 which is secured rcmovably to the said casing by the bolts 14. The switch mechanism and the stationary and movable switch members is adapted to be contained in the lower part of said casing 10 and immersed in the oil in said receptacle and fuses are adapted to be contained in the upper part of said casing and rendered, accessible. for renewal by removal ofthe cover 11.

Ears 15 are struck out from the lower edge of the front and rear walls of said casing to form a shelf on which the plate 16 is supported. Said plate is formed preferably of insulating material, as porcelain, and, preferably, is a close fit within the casing whereby substantially to isolate the upper and lower portions of the casing and separate the chambers containing the switch switch members.

mechanisms and the fuses and circuit leads. The upper face of said plate is provided with spring fuse clips 17 and 18 spaced and arranged to receive the tubular fuses 19 through which connection may be established between the line and the stationary One set of .fuse clips, as 17 is provided with binding screws 20 to which motor leads may be secured; and the motor leads may enter the casing through a conduit inserted throu h, say, the aperture 21 in the upper part 0 the casing.

Said plate is formed'withthe barriers 22 disposed between the tubular fuses. Pillars 23 rise above the upper face of said plate and screws 24 and 24.- extend therethrough adapted to connect the switch closing and holding coil with leads extended to a remote control switch; and said leads may enter the casing through, say, the aperture 25.

The under side of said late 16 is formed with two recesses 26 and 2? and separated by the raised barrier 28; and said recesses are adapted to receive the stationary switch members 29 and 30. The particular switch here chosen to illustrate the invention is adapted to control a three phase motor and.

consequently three sets of stationary switch members are illustrated. The same construction, however, will be employed for switches adapted to control circuits of difierent phases. Said stationary switch members are formed of resilient strips of metal, having their upper ends reflexed outwardly to form the toot-portions 29 and 30 which are received in said recesses 26 and 27 respectively and by which said switch members are secured to said plate 16. Screws 31 serve'to secure said switch-members 29 to pend downwardly into the oil in the oil receptacle and, in switch-open position,

are, preferably, substantially parallel. Thelower ends 29 and30 of said members are reflexed outwardly; and reversible and interchangeable contact members 34: areremovably secured by suitable means, as screws 35,

i of the circuit in whichsaid switch-members to said refiexed ends. An insulating pin 36 having an enlarged body portion 36 is loosely received in aligned apertures in each set of switch members and serve as spacers by which. to hold theswitch members of each set a uniform distance apart and provide practically simultaneous closing and opening are included. The reduced portions of said pins extend beyond said switch members a distance in excess of the extent of movement of said'members when the bridging members, hereinafter to be described, are moved therebetween to close the circuit controlled by the switch whereby said pins will be retained in position without the necessity for. especial retaining means. l

A single coil 40 is employed to effect the operation of the switch and the coil is arranged to be energized to close the switch and remain energized to hold the switch and be de-energized to effect the opening of the switch. v

Saidcoil 40 is disposed upon and supported by the leg 41 of the Ushaped magnetic structure or core having a second leg 42 and the "integral connecting portion 43 and formed of a plurality ofassembled laminae. Said core is received in the recess 44 of the plate 16' and two'sets of angle members 45and 46 are disposed on oppositesides of and secured to said core and also to said plate whereby to secure said core in position; An angle member 47 is secured to said leg 42 on the lower portion of its inner face and the leg 47 of 1 said member extends below and forms a support for said coil 40 and also serves to maintain the coil in placeon the core.

Themovable switch member includes the.

bar or armature 48 formed of a plurality of assembled laminae and is adapted to be pivoted to one of the legs of the core, as the leg 42, and attracted to a position in engagement with the lower faces of both legs of the core to close the switch. An end of said armature 48 .is formed with a vertically elongated slot 49 therein and a'pivot pin 50 is passed through said slot and fixed in lateral extensions of the leg42 of the core, as

the angle members 51 and 52 secured to opposite faces of said leg 42 and depending therebelow. K The loose pivotal connection between the. core and armature. is highly desirable inthat it permits the pivoting of the armature about said .pin to close the switch and the armature is thereafter drawn into close contact with the ends of the legs of the core whereby the reluctance of the magnetic' circuit is made low and the coil 40 is enabled to hold the switch closed with a low power consumption. 7 t

It will be noted that said angle members 45,46, 47, 51, and 52 are identical and interchangeable one in place of another whereby to effect economy in manufacture.

Shading coils 53 and 54 may be applied to the end faces of the legs 41 and 42 of the core, if desired, to reduce noise'and assist in holding the armature. in attracted position.

The movable switch member also includes the bar 55, which may be slightly flexible, if desired; and said bar is secured to the lower face of the armature 48 by the screws 56. Said bar is formed with the rear upwardly reflexed end-portion 57 adapted to engage the leg 42 of. the core and limit the movement of the movable switch members in a switchopening direction. The forward end of said bar is forked to provide two arms or branches 58 and 59; and an insulating bar 60 is secured to said arms. members 61 are carried by and spaced along said barand secured thereto by the bolts 62; and said contact members are formed with the downwardly and outwardly reflexed endportions 61 adapted to make contact with the stationary'contact members. Due to the wedge shape of said movable contact members, said members will be forced between and cause the stationary contact members to spread while in contact therewith and thereby to provide a wipingor self-cleaning contact.

It is obvious that when said coil 40 is effectively energized the armature 48 will be attracted and the movable contact members will be 'moved upwardly to engage and bridge the stationary contact members and that the'movable switch member will remain in closed position until said'coil 40 is deenergized. v

The switch above described is adapted to be controlled by a remote control switch having closing and opening positions and usually having a button to be depressed to cause the closing of the switch and a separate buttonto be depressed to cause the opening of the'switch although the arrangement may vary somewhat in specific instances.

Fig. 10 illustratesdiagrammatically the connections'between the switch andthe linearranged to complete the circuit throu h the holding coil 40 and the circuit throug said coil-is arranged thereafter to be maintained closed at the switch itself. The act of depressing the opening switch d is arranged to break the holding "circuit and de-energize the holding'coil 40 and cause the switch to i open; and the arrangements are such that the closing switch a mustagain be depressed before the switch can again be closed.

In a switch-of theitype above set forth, it has been moreor less common practice to provide an auxiliary switch structure independent of the main switch structure but operated synchronously-therewith to controlthe circuit for the closing and holding coil.

It is an object of this invention to utilize a part of the main switch structure to accomplish ,the results heretofore accomplished with auxiliary switches. ble lead 70 is extended from the fixed post 2140f the su porting plate 16 to and connected with the bolt 62 which secures say an outermost movable contact member fil to the insulating bar 60; and consequently said post .24 will be electrically connected with said movable contact member. Said lead 70 is arranged with sufficient length and flexibility to permit :tree

able switch member.. The contact member of the remote controlswitch is connected through the conductor f to thepost 24; and the contact member 6 to a stationary switch member 32 through the conductor g. The

contact member e is connected with the post 24 through the conductorh; and the coil is connected between said post 24 and onset the stationary switch members 32 other than the one to whichthe remote control switch vmember h is connected.

- .With the arrangement above-set forth it will be seen that w en the closing bridging member a is depressed, and with the switch. in open position a circuit will be established between the bridging members a and d and theclosing coil 40 and the outer leads of the line circuit and the switch will be moved into closed position. When the switch is moved into closed position, the circuit through the coil 40 is also established through the lead and the movable; contact member 61 connected therewith; and .the coil will remain energized when the closing bridging memher a is released from engagement with its contact members; When the opening bridging member. d is depressed the circuit through said lead 7 O is broken and the coil 40- becomes dc-energized andfconsequent ly the switch opens and. can be closedonly by again depressing the closingbridging member a.

It is obvious invention may be modified withoutldeparting from the spirit of the invention.

p I claim 1. An electric switch having the combination of a substantially horizontal insulatmg sup orting plate, two relatively flexible insulate opposed stationary switch members and having lower divergent contact termie To this end a fieximovement of the movv i that the structure hereindescribed for the purpose of illustrating theried by sald arm and comprising a flat plate having downwardly reflexed end-portions,

means arranged to force said wedge shaped contact member in between and thereby bridge and electrically connect the divergent contact terminals of said flexible stationary switch members, and an oil receptacle depending from said supporting plate and enclosing the aforesaid members, said supporting plate comprising a cover for said oil receptacle. v

2. An electric switch having the combination of a substantially horizontal insulating supporting plate, two relatively flexible opposed and insulated stationary switch members secured to and depending from said plate and having lower divergent contact-terminals, a vertically-movable switchmember including an arm, a support depend ing from said plate to which said arm is pivoted, a wedge-shaped insulated contact member carried by said arm and arranged to be moved upwardly between and electrically connect the divergent contact terminals of said stationary switch members, electrical means secured to and depending from said plate arranged to operate said movable switch member, said electrical means 1nolud-' plate and enclosing the aforesaid members, I

said supporting plate comprising a cover for said receptacle.

. 3. An electric switch having the combination of an enclosing casing, an insulating supporting plate disposed within said casing, two" opposed and spaced-apart, resilient stationary switch-members dependingly secured tosaid plate and having their lower ends divergent, a movable switch member including anlarm pivotally carried by said plate, and a contact member having divergent endportions' arranged to be moved into position between and spread outwardly and electrically connect said stationar switch members, an insulating member disposed between said divergent end-portions and insulatingly connectin said contact member and arm, and electrical means to operate saidmovable switch member, said enclosing casing ineluding an oil receptacle depending below said supporting plate. v

4. An electric switch having the combination of an insulating supporting plate, two spaced-apart resilient stationary switch members secured to and depending below said plate and having divergent endortions, contact-members removably secure to said end-portions, an insulating spacing member 1 1 said stationary switch members,

secured to said insulating member arranged to be moved upwardly between and bridge and electrical means dependingly secured to said supporting plate to operate said movable switch member. 1

5. An electric switch having the combination of an insulating supporting plate,

groups of stationary swltch members secured to and depending below said supporting plate, each group comprising two resilient spaced-apart members having divergent lower end-portions, a movable switch-inemher including an arm pivotally carried by said supporting plate and having two spaced branches, an insulating'bar secured to and between said branches, and a plurality of insulated wed e-shaped contact members carried by said ar arranged each to engage and bridge the stationary switch members of each group, and electrical means to operate said movable switch member. 7

6. :An electric switch having electric switch-operating 'means for closing .and holding closed the switch includinga mag netic core having two legs, an energizing coil disposed on one of said legs, an armature loosely pivoted at but normally free from direct engagement with said other leg arranged to be attracted into a position in contactwith the end faces of both legs, and rela tively movable stationary and movable con- 40 tact members arranged to be moved into and away from engagementby said armature.

7. An electric switch including electrical.

switch-operating mechanism for closing and holding closed the switch including a. mag- 5 netic core having two legs, an energizing coil disposed on one of said legs, two supporting members secured to opposite faces of said other leg and extended beyond the end therer of, apivot pin extended between and secured 0 slot therein in which said pivot pin is loosely received, whereb said armature may be r moved and held lIl direct contact with both legs, and yielding stationaryand movable switch members arranged to be held in engagement by said armature.

8. An electric switch including a supportin the portions, of said supporting members,- an armature having a vertically elongated.

pin extended between and secured to the extended portions of said supporting members, an armature disposed between 'said sup porting members having a 'pivot hole there-' l' in which S d pivot pin is received, sald supporting and attaching members being identical and interchangeable, and Stationary and movable switch members'arranged to be moved into and away from engagement by said armature.

9, An electric switch including electrical switch-operating means including a magnetic core having two legs, an'energizing coil loosely disposed on' one of said legs, a mem ber secured to and extended from said second leg and terminated short of said coil-leg' arranged to engage and support said coil in position, an armature pivoted to said secondleg, and movable and stationary switch members-arranged to be movedjinto and away from engagement by said armature.

10. An electric switch including a supporting plate, electrical switch-operating means including a magnetic core secured toend of said bar, and said bar having a pro; .jection extended upwardly beyond the pivoted'end of said armature-and arranged to engage the second leg of said core and limit the downward movement of said is contact members carried by said extendedarmature, and stationary switch members" dependingly carried by said plate arranged to be engaged by said contact members.

11. An electric switch including a receptacle, an insulating supporting plate disposed in said receptacle, electrical switch operating means including a magnetic core dependingly secured to said supporting plate, an energizing coil disposed on one leg of said core, supportlngmembers secured on opposite sides of said second leg i and extended therebeyond, a pivot pin extended between and secured in the extended portions of said supporting members, an armature disposed between said supporting members having a vertically-don gated slot in one end inwhich said pivot pin is loosely received, a bar secured to said armature and extended therebeyond and rovided with two branches-,an ins'ulat- 1 ing ar extended between and arried by sald branches, insulated contact members having downwardly and outwardly divergent end portions carried bysaid bar, a

plurality of groups of stationary switch members dependingly secured ;to said supporting plate each roup comprising two spaced resilieiit switc members having divergent lower end-portions be engaged and electrically bridged by said Contact members, said bar extended upwardly beyond the pivotal end of said armature and arranged to engage said second leg of the magnetic core and limit. the downward movement of said armature.

12. An electric switch comprising the combination of an insulating supporting plate, pairs of stationary switch members depending therefrom, each pair comprising a pair of relatively long and flexible opposed and insulated arms secured to and depending below said supporting plate and having divergent lower end-portions, an arm pivotally supported below said switch members an insulating ba: carried by said arm, a plurality of Wedge-shaped bridging members carried in spaced and insulated relation on said insulating bar, and electrical operating mechanism comprising an electromagnet core carried by and depending below said supporting plate, said core having two poles arranged above and along the length of said arm, an armature carried by said arm and arranged along the length thereof, and pivotal supporting means for said arm and armature.

13; An electric switch having the combination of an enclosing casing including a removable oil receptacle, an insulating supporting plate disposed within and secured to'said casing and comprising a cover for said oiltreceptacle, stationary switch members comprising a pair of opposed insulated approximately parallel and relatively long and flexible arms carried by and depending below said plate and comprising opposite terminals of the switch, said arms having divergent removable contact terminals, and a stationary switch membercomprising a bracket carried by and depending below s id supporting, plate, an arm pivoted to said bracket and extended below the level of said stationary switch members, and a wedge-shaped insulated contact member carried by said arm having reflexed downwardly and outwardly dependent end-portions forming contact surfaces and arranged to be moved forcibly upward between the contact terminals of said stationary switch members and electrically connect them and thereby complete the circuit through the switch.

ing below said supporting plate, an arm pivoted to said bracket and extended below the level of said stationary switch members, and a wedge-shaped insulated contact member comprising a plate having downwardly reflexed end-portions carried 10 said arm and arranged to be moved forci ly upward betweenthe contact terminals of said stationary switch members and electrically connect them and means to restrict the ex-' tent of upward movement of saidwedgeshaped contact member, the lower portion of said enclosing casing comprising a receptacle adapted to contain oil in which the switch-members are immersed.

' In testimony whereof, I have si name to this specification,

CHESTER D. AINSWORTH.

gned my 

